The Frugal Yankee: how to save money, find deals, and be a savvy consumer

Start saving and learning now!

Links to helpful websites

Lifehacker, the Productivity and Software Guide

Lifehacker makes getting things done easy and fun. Delving deep into the technoweb, Lifehacker brings back simple and totally life-altering tips and tricks for managing your information and time. Editor Gina Trapani deciphers the latest in personal productivity technology and reveals how hardware and software can improve our busy lives. At this wild moment in the development of human-oriented technology, Lifehacker is your own personal early adopter, here to guide you through the onslaught of the new. The world is full of fascinating problems waiting to be solved: Lifehacker can help.

Bankrate.com

Free, objective information and rate quotes for consumer bank products such as mortgage rates, home loans, credit cards, CDs, auto loans, home equity loans, money market funds, personal loans, checking and savings accounts. One of the most useful websites around for consumers looking for financial information. Bookmark it!

Magazine Price Search

MagazinePriceSearch.com saves you time and money by continually monitoring subscription prices for 2545 magazines from 24 online magazine stores, plus 66 coupons, and compiling everything into one easy to use site!

eDeals

eDeals offers coupon codes, online deals and online coupon savings to thousands of your favorite stores including Old Navy, Dell, Nordstrom, Walmart, Zappos and many more.

Gas Buddy

Use Gas Buddy to comparison shop gasoline prices in your neck of the woods.

Sales Circular

Sales Circular sorts through newspaper inserts, weekly circulars, and junk mail to create a master list of advertised sale items. Choose your state, pick a product category, and you'll quickly find the local retailer with the best deal.

Planet Lulu

L.A.'s premiere sample sale company. Top designers at 50% to 70% below retail.

How to Put Savings (and yourself) First With a Budget

Banking and Budgeting Guide: How to Put Savings (and yourself) First With a Budget. An excellent how-to guide that has been ranked very highly. Visit to learn how to free up cash for saving.

Financial Calculators

Just about any type of financial calculator you might need!

Price Protectr - Get your money back!

Price Protectr keeps its eye on web-sold goods from more than 40 online stores that promise to refund you the difference if an item's price is lowered. Since most of us forget to check the price again after we've made the purchase, Proce Protectr's service is great: they'll alert you by email if a price drops during the covered period.

Frugal Dad

Making frugal cool again!

The most popular coupon sites online

#1 Coupons.com

Last year some $300 million worth of coupons were printed. Has an iPhone app too.

#2 RetailMeNot.com

Usage has doubled on this site since late 2008

#3 CouponCabin.com

In addition to online printable coupons the site features discounts and localized offers and also has an iPhone app.

#4 FatWallet.com

Cashback and coupons from more than 2,500 retailers

#5 DealCatcher.com

Especially good with tech products and consumer goods and has a "Catch of the Day"

Do It Yourself!

DIY Life

At the DIY Life website you'll find tons of how-to information. You'll find four main categories (Home & Family; Home Improvement; Hobbies & Crafts; and Tech), each with subcategories full of information.

D*I*Y Planner

DIYPlanner.com is a community site whose focus is on paper-based productivity, planning, journalling and creative techniques. Here you will find the official D*I*Y Planner kits, as well as daily articles, scores of useful templates, handbooks and how-to's, forums for discussing productivity in its many forms, images to clad your planners or inspire you, and so much more.

DoItYourself.com

DoItYourself.com was established in 1995 with a goal to provide consumers with unbiased home improvement and repair information in a community environment. Today DoItYourself.com averages over two million unique visitors per month. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.

DiY Network (TV)

Even if your cable company doesn't carry the DiY Network, you can still benefit from the TV channel's website where you'll find home improvement, crafts, gardening, auto, and woodworking projects and videos.

Do It Yourself Resources

Visit refdesk.com for a list of links to a variety of do-it-yourself resources. Gardening, plumbing, home brew, candlemaking, appliance repair, woodworking, and upholstery are just a few of the many topics for which you'll find links.

EERE Consumer's Guide: Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Audits

When you save energy, you save money and do good stuff for our planet. The U.S. Department of Energy shows you how to easily conduct a home energy audit yourself. It's part of a larger, excellent site, Consumer's guide to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Have a look around!

Barter!

good for you wallet, eco-friendly too

U-Exchange

Trade Anything, Pay Nothing. U-Exchange is the Largest Free Swap Site that specializes in every type of trade. No membership fees, barter currencies or commissions taken on trades. It's Free to contact, post and swap with other members.

Swaptree

Swap books, trade CDs, DVDs and video games with other users for free. List the books, music, movies and games you are trading and the ones you want, and Swaptree will instantly find all of the items that you can receive for the items that you have.

Craigslist

You might not have noticed, but Craigslist has a section for bartering. It's the first link under the For Sale section.

ITEX - a small business community and barter network

At the ITEX Retail Trade Exchange, members make purchases with ITEX dollars - earned by selling their products and services, excess inventory or capacity to other ITEX Members. ITEX charges both the buyer and the seller a 6% cash charge, so it's not totally free, but still can be a really good deal for small businesses.

More Free Stuff!

StartSampling

Interested in trying new products for free? This website connects companies with consumers who test products. You can also go directly to company websites (e.g. Tide.com or olay.com) for coupons and samples. Whenever you participate in free sample programs, read the website's fine print carefully to make sure you're comfortable with their privacy policy and to avoid being innundated with emails.

Birthday Alarm

Free birthday and event reminders, free invites and party planning tools, and more. In addition to English-language greetings, they have nearly 200 birthday greetings in many different languages.

Memo to Me

Memo to Me Memo to Me is a free internet reminder service. Never miss a birthday, anniversary, meeting, appointment, or event again!

Free Directory Assistance Service

It typically costs $1.00 or more for each directory assistance call you make. If you call 1-800-FREE411 (1-800-373-3411), the automated voice recognition system will locate the number, read the information aloud, and give you the option of connecting to the number by pressing a single number on your keypad.

Depending on the number you're looking for (business, residential, government, non-profit), you may have to listen to a few seconds of advertising. But you'll get your number at no charge.

Cell phone users concerned that taking advantage of the free directory assistance service will entail potentially giving out their cell phone numbers to telemarketers should note that federal law already prohibits certain types of calls from being placed to cell phones, and all phone users can block telemarketing calls by listing their numbers with the national Do Not Call Registry.

Keep in mind too that if you use a cell phone to call this service, you are still subjec to any charges your carrier may impose for making a call.

Don't forget, you can use their website to find numbers as well.

Free Wake Up Calls and More

TelePixie delivers free wake up calls, group calls, voice broadcasting, reminders, stock alerts and more! And it works - I've used it, and based on my experience, I believe them when they say "We won't call, spam or sell your info." Give it a try.

Free MP3 Music Downloads

from c|net - a reliable and trustworthy source. Software and games too!

Freebyte (Lots of goodies!)

Freebyte, Your guide to the Web. Free software, clipart, images, music, games, jokes, anti-virus, dictionaries, pims, operating systems, programming tools, news, weather, screensavers, ebooks, and more.

Happy Birthday Freebies!

Here's a great list of businesses where you can get a birthday freebie - mostly food, but I saw a car wash and movie theatre on the list too.

Free Budget Worksheet

from BetterBudgeting

Free Dealing With Debt Worksheet

from BetterBudgeting

Free Budget-Spending Worksheet - Monthly Household Budgeting

from BetterBudgeting

Free Annual Budgeting Worksheet - Household Budget Planning

from BetterBudgeting

More Ways To Save!

Free Annual Credit Reports

One way to save money is having a good credit record (Your interest charges will be lower, for example), and to make sure your credit record is accurate (and that no one has stolen your identity) you need to look at it periodically. Under federal law you can now get one copy per year from each of the three credit reporting agencies. Get one report every four months.

The Home Energy Saver

The Home Energy Saver is a tool to help you find the best ways to save energy in your home. Lower your energy use and you'll save money. And help the environment too!

Tip: the more information you provide, the more The Home Energy Saver will be able to customize your results.

Know Your Stuff

Sponsored by the Insurance Information Institute, Know Your Stuff is a free software program (Mac and PC) that helps you organize information about your stuff - room by room. Using this program, you'll have all the information your insurance company needs in the event that you have to file a claim.

Tip: keep a copy of the inventory in a second location, like your safety deposit box or your office.

Posh Points

PoshPoints is an online trading system where items are bought and sold using the PoshPoints Point System . As opposed to conventional item-for-item trading, you are awarded points that can be redeemed on any item posted in the PoshPoint Market. Very interesting! Go have a look.

Rather-Be-Shopping

Have a look at Kyle's website. Coupons updated daily so you will never pay full price online again. And he's got a good blog, articles, and other information that you'll be interested in.

TheThriftShopper.Com

Thrift store directory, online thrifting community, and a place to learn more about thrift shopping. TheThriftShopper.Com is a one-stop web destination for all your thrift shopping needs.

ConsignmentShops.com

A convenient way to find a list of
consignment shops, resale shops, thrift shops and antique shops across the nation and beyond.

Protect Yourself!

Scams, hoaxes, and urban legends

HOAXBUSTERS Home Page

Hoaxes & scams: learn how to recognize them and what to do about them

Urban Legends and Folklore

THE starting place for exploring Urban Legends and Folklore on the Web: Internet hoaxes, rumors, urban legends and urban myths debunked.

FakeChecks.org

This Web site was created by the National Consumers League (NCL), the nation's oldest nonprofit consumer organization, as a central source of information and advice about fake check scams. NCL created the site in collaboration with the Alliance for Consumer Fraud Awareness, a coalition of consumer and business organizations, government agencies, and companies that are committed to fighting fake check scams.

Urban Legends Reference Pages

The definitive Internet reference source for urban legends, folklore, myths, rumors, and misinformation. You'll find some scams too!

Identity Theft Resources

Identity Theft Resource Center | A Nonprofit Organization

A nonprofit, nationally respected program dedicated exclusively to identity theft. It provides consumer and victim support and advises governmental agencies, legislators and companies about this evolving and growing crime.

Stolen ID Search

At this site you can check to see if your social security number has been compromised. It has been recommended by my favorite consumer advocate, Clark Howard (featured elsewhere in this lens), and featured in a number of consumer-oriented articles. Be sure to read the FAQs, and don't feel obligated to purchase any of their ID protection software.

Identity Theft Resource Center | A Nonprofit Organization

Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC), is a nonprofit national organization for identity theft. Provides consumer & victim support, public education, and advice to governmental agencies, legislators, law enforcement, & businesses on identity theft.

Internet Crime Complaint Center

The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C).

IC3's mission is to serve as a vehicle to receive, develop, and refer criminal complaints regarding the rapidly expanding arena of cyber crime. The IC3 gives the victims of cyber crime a convenient and easy-to-use reporting mechanism that alerts authorities of suspected criminal or civil violations. For law enforcement and regulatory agencies at the federal, state, local and international level, IC3 provides a central referral mechanism for complaints involving Internet related crimes.

Buy and Sell Without Paying Commissions

I love eBay, but it's not the only marketplace out there.....

craigslist (the granddaddy of them all!)

craigslist provides local classifieds and forums for jobs, housing, for sale, personals, services, local community, and events

Kijiji

Kijiji offers free local classified ads. It's owned by eBay, but free to use.

Backpage

Free classified ads across North America, quickly gaining in popularity

Save on groceries!

Grocery Guide

I love this site! It's the fastest and easiest way to compare and shop the sales at your local grocery stores -- and you don't have to drive around!

Local Harvest / Farmers Markets / Family Farms / CSA / Organic Food

Produce that doesn't have to travel is both eco-friendly and less expensive. At Local Harvest you can find locally grown produce, anywhere in the country! Just enter your zip code or use the interactive maps to locate farmers markets, family farms, food coops, CSAs, farm stands, and pick-your-own produce in your neighborhood. And if you find any coops near you, be sure to check them out - bulk items are often much less expensive at coops.

Clark Howard

Save more, spend less, and avoid ripoffs

Clark Howard

Clark Howard's website is loaded with information. Sections include Personal Finance, Life & Family, Insurance, Homes & Real Estate, Cars, Health & Healthcare, Education, Employment & the Military, Scams & Ripoffs, and Computers & the Internet. You can participate in message boards, get Clark's newsletter, and download podcasts.

If you check out only one thing on this lens, make it clarkhoward.com!

More deals!

Be Fabulous For Less!

On The Budget Fashionista, you'll find fashion tips, topics, and advice that help you to have a fabulous closet and a fabulous 401k. Real information for real women!

See Jack Shop

Men's style for less

The Budget Casa

Creating great homes on a budget

The Budget Ecoist

Be green on a budget. The Budget Ecoist links you to the best eco buzz from around the web. And remember - being frugal and being green usually go hand-in-hand (which is nice!).

Computers, Internet, WIFI, Electronics.....

JiWire

Wifi hotspot directory for wireless internet access from JiWire.

Locate and map WiFi hotspots
*Learn to setup and use WiFi
*Get the right wireless gear
*Protect your privacy at hotspots
*Send hassle-free email at hotspots

Kim Komando

Kim's weekly three-hour call-in talk radio show is heard on over 425 stations. She does a Computer Minute radio feature five days a week; has written eight books about life in the digital age; sends out 5 million e-mail newsletters weekly; and authors a widely syndicated newspaper column, which also runs in USA Today.com.

If you're a consumer who needs digital advice or help, go see Kim.

Free WiFi For Everyone!

If you'd like to travel anywhere in the world and connect to high speed Internet for free, check out FON (key investors include Google and Skype). The organization enables people to share wireless connections without others having access to your private information. You just sign in wherever you are around the world and connect. Do not miss this if you are into WiFi!